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Monday, December 24, 2007

Two Christmas Memes

And after much delay, here are my responses to the Christmas Meme for which Melody tagged me.

1. What is your most enduring Christmas memory?Follow the link for a look into some of my most precious Christmas memories.

2. Do you have a favorite piece of Christmas music? I love Christmas music in general, and so picking just one favorite is impossible. This year I seem to be partial to Jingle Bell Rock, but some of my other favorites will always be What Child Is This?, Sleigh Ride, Carol of the Bells, and Little Drummer Boy. That is just the tip of the iceberg though.

3. Do you stick to the old family traditions? Some, but not most. Time has eroded many of the old family traditions. It is hard to hold onto them when Christmases are divided between one family or another and as other family members also go their own way.

4. What makes your mouth water at Christmas time?Homemade cookies and my mother's pumpkin pie. No one can make pumpkin pie like her.

5. How soon do you put the Christmas tree up and when do you take it down? It depends. Usually the tree goes up the weekend after Thanksgiving or shortly thereafter. This year it took a little longer than that even. The tree comes down whenever we feel like taking it down. Sometimes it has stayed up for another month while other times we take it down almost immediately after Christmas.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I much prefer gift bags because I am such a terrible wrapper. Unfortunately, because I ship off so many of the gifts I send, gift bags are not very practical.

2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial. I have never had a real tree and can't really say I'm eager to try one.

3. When do you put up the tree? This year we've been a little behind. Hubby put the tree up late, and it's still not decorated. In years past, it's usually the weekend after the American Thanksgiving Holiday.

4. When do you take the tree down? It depends on when we get tired of having it up. The longest we've kept the tree up was about a month after Christmas.

5. Do you like eggnog? I do but without the alcohol added in.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My pink/white banana seat bicycle. On my first ride out on it, I rode right into someone's mailbox, but I didn't let that stop me from enjoying my prize.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes.

8. Hardest person to buy for? My father-in-law.

9. Easiest person to buy for? Me. Oh! I suppose I don't really count do I? It never fails though that when I go holiday shopping, I always end up picking something up for myself too. Haha I suppose my mother would be the easiest if I don't count myself.

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A floral-designed ceramic cross wall hanging. It was ugly and not at all something anyone who knows my husband and I well would have gotten us. I know it's terrible of me to be so ungrateful. I hate even admitting it!

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, absolutely.

12. Favorite Christmas movie? I have two. The original Miracle on 34th Street and The Santa Clause.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? It varies. Some years I am ahead of the game and start as I'm shopping for the the Christmas before it, while other years I wait until the last minute. Because I mail out most of the gifts I give, last minute to me usually means by the end of November.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes. That ceramic cross, for example. I had a friend who fell in love with it at first sight. So, I gave it to her. More often than not, I give away gifts I don't want not so much as gifts, but with full disclosure that I received a gift I don't need or especially want. I hate tossing anything out or leaving it to clutter up my closet (although I do that too sometimes). I might as well find a good home for such items.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes as well as the unofficial ones.

20. Angel on the treetop or a star? Angel. I always had a star on the top of the tree growing up and never thought I would be able to grow used to having an angel in its place. Our angel is my favorite Christmas decoration.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? The whole Happy Holiday/Season Greetings versus Merry Christmas debate. Likewise the Christmas versus Xmas debate. It's so silly to me and such a small thing. There are many more serious concerns to be bothered by out there than how someone greets someone or what is posted on a sign or in a card. Both sides of the argument are guilty of making a mountain out of a molehill.

23. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color? No.

24. What do/did you leave for Santa? Growing up, my brother and I would leave cookies and milk or sometimes a soda. We would also leave out a little something for the reindeer as well, usually carrots or celery.

21 comments:

I always pick a little something for myself when I go Christmas shopping too. I even wrap it and put it under the tree :P I think it's good to also remember to be kind to ourselves at this time of the year.

Nymeth - I just can't help it. Although this year I didn't, I usually end up getting my own stocking stuffers because I know my husband won't think of it. Come Christmas day he feels guilty if he gets more in his stocking than I do, so I figure it's worth the effort. ;-)

I hope you have a great Christmas too, Nymeth!

Janiejane - Same to you! I do hope you are feeling better and that the cold passed you by instead of settling in for the long haul. I hate being sick this time of year.

I think you have the perfect excuse for buying yourself a little something while Christmas shopping! You might as well get two, one for your sister and one for yourself. Who knows when you'll find such a great item at that price again? Haha

Merry Christmas! Thanks for a year of great reviews and book conversations. And thanks for the link in your sidebar. I just noticed it yesterday, and yelled to my hubby, "I have a link on Literary Feline! How cool is that?" To which he responded, "I have no idea what you're talking about." Oh, well, it made my day.

I normally pick something for myself too. But this year, I had to pass. There seem to be many kids to buy gifts for this year. And I always love to see their reaction on the gifts they get. It priceless to watch ;) :)

Miracle on 34th Street is one of my favourite Christmas movies too. I watch it every year (both original and new verison)

Hope you're having a lovely Christmas Eve and have a wonderful day tomorrow!

I don't think many people make that mountain out of a molehill, but the few who do are loud and persistent and leave the rest of us feeling like we have to choose sides. I'm an atheist who grew up catholic, so I celebrate in a very Christmassy way, but I tend to do it on Solstice, mostly because that's about when everyone in my household gets off work or school. No disrespect meant to those who celebrate Solstice because that day in particular is meaningful to them, and no disrespect meant to those who believe the 25th is their savior's birthday. I don't take offense if someone says Happy Hannukah or Merry Christmas or whatever. I just figure they're saying have a nice day in the way that their traditions and beliefs teach them to say it this time of year. :) I say Happy Holidays because I get two weeks off work, so I have days and days of holidays. And because that way I know I've included whatever holiday the people I'm speaking to might celebrate.

Dewey - I'm right there with you. And you said it all very well! I use all the terms at some time or another and don't mind which is used when someone addresses me.

I am glad you aren't surrounded by the debate each holiday season. It carries on at work, among my friends, and in several the online reading groups I belong to, even in the news here. People taking offense to one side or the other. Every year, it becomes an issue. It just gets to me sometimes. I fall into that "Why can't everyone just get along?" mentality. LOL

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At the age of five, Literary Feline (aka Wendy) was diagnosed as a fabulavore. Due to the low story content of movies and television, she has required a steady supply of books to provide her sustenance. She currently resides in California with her loving husband, adorable daughter, and two affectionate cats. Literary Feline has broadened her nutritional sources by reviewing books. Please note: Literary Feline is not a bibliovore. She's not eating the books for goodness' sake.